The silent killer continues to claim lives
However, it can also cause concern and negative consequences. Searches for "cell phone addiction" have been rising on Google Trends since 2004.
It's a difficult thing to navigate, as in many ways the rise in smartphone use is a normal response to the necessities of modern life, which demand people are almost always reachable.
Worldwide, there are over 3.8 billion smartphone users. Of those users, around 6.3% have what can be considered a phone addiction.
Among those billions of smartphone users, research has found they receive 427% more messages and notifications, and send 278% more texts, than they did a decade earlier.
Cell phones are designed to be addictive. By keeping users engaged, through accessible information as well as sounds, colors, and vibrations, it's clear engineers know how to keep people fanatical about their phones.
Do phones actually cause symptoms of anxiety, depression and loneliness, or are people with these symptoms just more susceptible to becoming dependent on their phones?
Whatever the case, recent studies have suggested that smartphone dependency directly predicts later depressive symptoms.
As our phones are constantly expanding upon their functionalities, this in turn increases the likelihood of overuse and addiction.
If you need to use your smartphone more and more, to get the same effect you did in the past with less usage, that's a cause for concern.
This should act as a warning sign to users, as compulsively checking your phone without reason is a major sign of cell phone dependence.
According to research, 67% of smartphone owners have checked their phone for calls or messages when their phone didn’t vibrate or ring.
Despite there being a well-established link between phone addiction and depression, anxiety, and loneliness, it's difficult to tell which came first: the addiction or the mental health concern.
Becoming reliant on your device can come at the detriment of your day-to-day life. This means your family, work, and social life can all suffer.
For now, cell phone addiction is not yet listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).
However, research has compared it to gambling addiction, which has clearer diagnostic criteria and is included in the DSM-5.
At least four of the following signs and symptoms are thought to be criteria for cell phone addiction. Alongside these criteria being met, the overuse must cause significant harm in the individual’s life.
If you persistently try to use your phone less often, but fail every time upon trying, then this is a sign of having a more serious problem.
If you're preoccupied with your phone, even when you're with someone or trying to complete another task, this is a sign of dependence.
Using your phone to numb feelings of depression and anxiety is not normal. In fact, it's a sign that your phone use is not healthy.
If you use your phone so excessively you lose all sense of time and place, neglecting yourself and your responsibilities, your usage is problematic.
If you've ever put an important relationship with someone, or your job, at risk due to your excessive phone use, it's a sign of addiction.
The constant need for the newest cell phone, more applications, and increased usage are signs that you have developed a tolerance when it comes to your phone usage; nothing is ever enough.
If your phone, network, or data are unavailable and you experience symptoms like anger, tension, irritability, restlessness, or depression, it's a bad sign.
Phone addiction can lead to lost sleep, lower concentration, anxiety, stress, loneliness, isolation, insecurity, relationship problems, and poor grades.
Chemical changes to the brain can occur with phone addiction. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a neurotransmitter with a calming or euphoric effect.
GABA plays an important role in addiction, as it rewards substance use and behaviors that are addictive. Chronic phone use has been shown to increase or decrease GABA production in the brain.
People with phone addiction see a reduction in the grey matter in their brain. This is the part of your brain that controls movement, memory, and emotions. Similar to substance use disorder, people with phone addiction see reduced grey matter in critical areas.
There are specialized addiction treatment centers that can help with phone addiction. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, psychotherapy, or counseling might be recommended to someone with this problem.
Take phone addiction seriously if you think you or a loved one might be suffering. There are many ways and methods to recover, and you can empower yourself by choosing to face things head-on.
Sources: (Addiction Center) (Parents) (PsychGuides.com)
See also: The 30 most disappointing cities in the world for tourists
Phone addiction is when someone uses a smartphone obsessively. "Nomophobia," the fear of being without a mobile device, can be used to refer to this behavioral addiction.
Intrigued? Click on the following gallery to learn the signs of phone addiction you need to watch out for.
You "hear" your phone even when it doesn't ring? Could be a bad sign
It's more common than you think!
HEALTH Dependency
Our phones have become so embedded in our lives that it's really hard to remember a time without them. For younger people, such a time doesn't exist in their memory. As phones become more high tech, intuitive, and convenient to use, our dependence on them grows. Really, how did we pick a restaurant or let someone know we were running late in the past? It's no surprise, then, that as our dependence on our phones to navigate our personal and working lives has grown, so too has the problem of phone addiction.
Intrigued? Click on the following gallery to learn the signs of phone addiction you need to watch out for.